Speedplay

Zero Chromoly

Speedplay Zero Chromoly

Speedplay's Zero Chromolys are fantastic pedals for road cycling thanks to their low weight, cornering clearance, adjustability and easy dual-sided entry and exit. This means you'll be the first going out of stop signs and start lines and be able to dive into the deepest corners. The Zeros let you choose a fixed cleat position or up to 15-degrees of unimpeded float, or independently adjust the lateral and fore/aft positioning. They boast needle and cartridge bearings and a cleat-based engagement mechanism that ensures you won’t clip out when going hard.

I just recently switched to this pedal system from Look Keo and so far I love them! They have a much more secure connection with the cleats, which improves efficiency throughout the pedal stroke. This also means that they require more force to clip into, but it takes no time at all to get used to it. The platform is also larger and distributes pressure more evenly on the foot. The amount of float is incredibly comfortable for my bad knees and is fully adjustable. They do take a little getting used to at first because they are true free-floating pedals that do not include spring tension. It literally feels like standing on an ice cube at first but it only took me about 8 miles to get used to the unrestricted float. They do require a lot more routine maintenance than my Look Keos because dry lube must be applied to the cleats before every ride and the bearings need to be greased about every 5,000 miles. These are both very simple tasks that can be completed at the user level in no time. The bottoms of the cleats are bare metal, which makes them very difficult to walk in or to push off with. I highly recommend the Keep on Kovers that remain attached to the cleat bottoms to prolong the life of the cleats. These can be found for $25 on Amazon. Overall I really love the Speedplay pedal system and do not at all regret making the switch from Look.

There's only one type of person this pedal won't work for... someone who weighs less than 115 pounds... it's nearly impossible for them to clip in. I recommend the Speedplay X5 pedals for them.
PS: all "Zero degree float" means is that these pedals can be dialed down to "No float" meaning that your heel has no left or right swing while clipped into the pedal. It is NEVER good to just zero the cleat out unless you have had a professional fit you to your bike and has confirmed that your skeleton does not require any float.
Zero degree float makes exiting the pedal faster.... meaning... you don't have to swing your foot out as far as you would with the "Light Action" which has 15 non-limit-able float. The Zero's ALSO have 15 degrees of POSSIBLE float... but you can dial them down to zero if needed.

A great pedal for anyone. whether you're interested in trying a clipless pedal system for the first time or you're (like me) and looking for a less-pricey training bike pedal option. the engagement is second to none, especially since it is a dual sided pedal. also, the fact that you can adjust the float to your own personal sweet spot of float amount is a huge plus. though the chromoly version is a bit heavier than the stainless and Ti models for the price this pedal is a huge bang for the buck.